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{{Short description|NBA team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NBA season
{{Infobox NBA season
| team = Detroit Pistons
| team = Detroit Pistons
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| arena = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]
| arena = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]
| gm = [[Joe Dumars]]
| gm = [[Joe Dumars]]
| president = Joe Dumars
| owners = [[Bill Davidson (businessman)|William Davidson]]
| owner = [[Bill Davidson (businessman)|Bill Davidson]]
| television = [[Fox Sports Detroit|Fox Sports Net Detroit]], [[WKBD-TV|WKBD]]
| playoffs = [[2004 NBA Finals|'''NBA Champions''']]<br><small>(Defeated [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|Lakers]] 4–1)</small>
| radio = [[WDFN]]
| playoffs = [[2004 NBA Finals|NBA Champions]]<br><small>(defeated [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|Lakers]] 4–1)</small>
| bbr_team = DET
| bbr_team = DET
| television =
* [[Fox Sports Detroit|Fox Sports Net Detroit]]
* [[WKBD-TV|WKBD]]
| radio = [[WDFN]]
}}
}}
The '''[[2003–04 NBA season]]''' was the [[List of Detroit Pistons seasons|63rd]] season for the Pistons, the 56th in the [[National Basketball Association]], and the 47th in the [[Detroit]] area.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html 2003-04 Detroit Pistons]</ref> Despite a solid year last season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the [[2003 NBA draft]], which they obtained from the [[2002–03 Memphis Grizzlies season|Memphis Grizzlies]]. They selected [[Darko Miličić]] as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most infamous busts in the history of the [[NBA draft]]. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since [[1990–91 Detroit Pistons season|1991]], the Pistons hired [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33–16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward [[Rasheed Wallace]] from the [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]] after playing just one game for them.<ref>{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Giving Up Little, Pistons Pull Off Deal for Wallace | work = The New York Times | date = February 20, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/sports/pro-basketball-giving-up-little-pistons-pull-off-deal-for-wallace.html?mcubz=1 | accessdate = August 29, 2017}}</ref> With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54–28 record. [[Ben Wallace]] was selected for the [[2004 NBA All-Star Game]]. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with Miličić being the youngest player to win said championship.
The '''[[2003–04 NBA season]]''' was the [[List of Detroit Pistons seasons|63rd]] season for the Pistons, the 56th in the [[National Basketball Association]], and the 47th in the [[Detroit]] area.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html 2003–04 Detroit Pistons]</ref> Despite a solid year the previous season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the [[2003 NBA draft]], which they obtained from the [[2002–03 Memphis Grizzlies season|Memphis Grizzlies]]. They selected [[Darko Miličić]] as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most [[Draft_(sports)#Draft_bust|suboptimal picks]] in the history of the [[NBA draft]]. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since [[1990–91 Detroit Pistons season|1991]], the Pistons hired [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33–16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward [[Rasheed Wallace]] from the [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]] after playing just one game for them.<ref>{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Giving Up Little, Pistons Pull Off Deal for Wallace | work = The New York Times | date = February 20, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/sports/pro-basketball-giving-up-little-pistons-pull-off-deal-for-wallace.html?mcubz=1 | access-date = August 29, 2017}}</ref> With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54–28 record. [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] was selected for the [[2004 NBA All-Star Game]]. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with Miličić being the youngest player to win said championship.


In the first round of the [[2004 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], the Pistons defeated the [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks]] in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey Nets]] who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons to take a 3–2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13–2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win game 6 81–75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held [[Jason Kidd]] to 0 points to blow out the Nets 90–69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana Pacers]] in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the [[2004 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] since [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]]. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since [[1989–90 Detroit Pistons season|1990]]. [[Chauncey Billups]] was named Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Teamwork Thumps Star Power | work = New York Times | date = June 16, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/16/sports/pro-basketball-teamwork-thumps-star-power.html | accessdate = October 10, 2017}}</ref>
In the first round of the [[2004 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], the Pistons defeated the [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks]] in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey Nets]] who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons by winning 3 straight games to take a 3–2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5 at The Palace. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13–2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win Game 6 81–75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held [[Jason Kidd]] to 0 points to defeat the Nets 90–69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana Pacers]] in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the [[2004 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] since [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]]. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since [[1989–90 Detroit Pistons season|1990]]. [[Chauncey Billups]] was named Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Teamwork Thumps Star Power | work = New York Times | date = June 16, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/16/sports/pro-basketball-teamwork-thumps-star-power.html | access-date = October 10, 2017}}</ref>


==Draft picks==
==Draft picks==
{{main|2003 NBA Draft}}
{{main|2003 NBA draft}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="10%"| Round
! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="10%"| Round
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==Roster==
==Roster==
{{NBA roster header|team=Detroit Pistons
{{NBA roster header|team=Detroit Pistons|season=2003–04
| bg1 = #006BB7 | color1 = #ED164B
| bg1 = #006BB7 | color1 = #FFFFFF
| bg2 = #ED164B | color2 = #FFFFFF
| bg2 = #B50000 | color2 = #FFFFFF
}}
}}
<!-- begin player list -->
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Chauncey | last = Billups | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 202 | college = Colorado | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Chauncey | last = Billups | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 202 | DOB = 1976-09-25 | college = Colorado}}
{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Elden | last = Campbell | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 279 | college = Clemson | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Elden | last = Campbell | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 279 | DOB = 1968-07-23 | college = Clemson}}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Tremaine | last = Fowlkes | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 212 | college = Fresno State | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Tremaine | last = Fowlkes | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 212 | DOB = 1976-04-11 | college = Fresno State}}
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Darvin | last = Ham | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 240 | college = Texas Tech | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Darvin | last = Ham | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 240 | DOB = 1973-07-23 | college = Texas Tech}}
{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Richard | last = Hamilton | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 193 | college = Connecticut | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Richard | last = Hamilton | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 193 | DOB = 1978-02-14 | college = Connecticut}}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Lindsey | last = Hunter | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | college = Jackson State | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Lindsey | last = Hunter | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1970-12-03 | college = Jackson State}}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Mike | last = James | dab = basketball, born 1975 | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 188 | college = Duquesne | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Mike | last = James | dab = basketball, born 1975 | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 188 | DOB = 1975-06-23 | college = Duquesne}}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Darko | last = Miličić | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 275 | from = Serbia and Montenegro | nat = SCG }}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Darko | last = Miličić | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 275 | DOB = 1985-06-20 | from = Serbia and Montenegro}}
{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Mehmet | last = Okur | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 290 | from = Turkey | nat = TUR }}
{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Mehmet | last = Okur | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 290 | DOB = 1979-05-26 | from = Turkey}}
{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Tayshaun | last = Prince | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | college = Kentucky | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Tayshaun | last = Prince | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1980-02-28 | college = Kentucky}}
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Ben | last = Wallace | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 245 | college = Virginia Union | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Ben | last = Wallace | dab = basketball | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 245 | DOB = 1974-09-10 | college = Virginia Union }}
{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Rasheed | last = Wallace | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 230 | college = North Carolina | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Rasheed | last = Wallace | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 230 | DOB = 1974-09-17 | college = North Carolina}}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Corliss | last = Williamson | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 245 | college = Arkansas | nat = USA }}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Corliss | last = Williamson | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 245 | DOB = 1973-12-04 | college = Arkansas}}
<!-- end player list -->
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
| head_coach =
*{{player||USA|[[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]]}} ({{college|North Carolina}})
* [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]]
| asst_coach =
| asst_coach =
* [[Herb Brown]]
* [[Herb Brown]]
* Dave Hanners
* [[Igor Kokoškov]]
* [[John Kuester]]
* [[Mike Woodson]]
* [[Mike Woodson]]
* Mike Abdenour (trainer)
* [[Igor Kokoskov]]
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html
| accessdate = 2004–02–26
| accessdate = February 26, 2004
}}
}}


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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
|-
!colspan=30|2003-04 NBA Records
!colspan=30|2003–04 NBA Records
|-
|-
!width=100|Team
!width=100|Team
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===Game log===
===Game log===
{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=2004|record=Total: 54–28 (Home: 31–10; Road: 23–18)}}
{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=2004|bgcolor=#006BB7|color=#ED164B|record=Total: 54–28 (Home: 31–10; Road: 23–18)}}
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|October|first=yes
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|October|first=yes|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 0
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 1
| home_losses = 1
Line 224: Line 232:
| road_losses = 0
| road_losses = 0
}}
}}
|-style="background:#fcc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|November
| 1
| October 29
| [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031029|home=DET|pf=87|pa=89}}
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Wallace]], [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] (16)
| Ben Wallace (17)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (7)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 0–1
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 2
| October 31
| @ [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031031|home=MIA|pf=93|pa=81}}
| Chauncey Billups (27)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Tayshaun Prince (5)
| [[American Airlines Arena]]<br>15,825
| 1–1
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|November|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 6
| home_wins = 6
| home_losses = 1
| home_losses = 1
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| road_losses = 4
| road_losses = 4
}}
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|December
| 3
| November 1
| @ [[2003–04 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031101|home=ORL|pf=96|pa=85}}
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (20)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (17)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (4)
| [[TD Waterhouse Centre]]<br>14,588
| 2–1
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 4
| November 5
| [[2003–04 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031105|home=DET|pf=96|pa=88}}
| Chauncey Billups (27)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>17,376
| 3–1
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 5
| November 7
| [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031107|home=DET|pf=105|pa=99}}
| Chauncey Billups (27)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,204
| 4–1
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 6
| November 9
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031109|home=DET|pf=98|pa=84}}
| Richard Hamilton (24)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,664
| 5–1
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 7
| November 11
| @ [[2003–04 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031111|home=SAC|pf=91|pa=97}}
| Richard Hamilton (19)
| [[Mehmet Okur]] (9)
| Hamilton, Billups (3)
| [[ARCO Arena]]<br>17,317
| 5–2
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 8
| November 12
| @ [[2003–04 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031112|home=GSW|pf=85|pa=87|ot=1}}
| Chauncey Billups (19)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (12)
| [[Oakland Arena|The Arena in Oakland]]<br>14,382
| 5–3
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 9
| November 14
| @ [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031114|home=LAL|pf=89|pa=94}}
| Chauncey Billups (29)
| Mehmet Okur (9)
| Billups, Hamilton (5)
| [[Staples Center]]<br>18,997
| 5–4
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 10
| November 15
| @ [[2003–04 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031115|home=PHO|pf=100|pa=91}}
| Richard Hamilton (27)
| Ben Wallace (16)
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (5)
| [[America West Arena]]<br>15,681
| 6–4
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 11
| November 18
| L.A. Lakers
| {{NBA game br|date=20031118|home=DET|pf=106|pa=96}}
| Chauncey Billups (25)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (8)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 7–4
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 12
| November 19
| @ [[2003–04 Memphis Grizzlies season|Memphis]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031119|home=MEM|pf=99|pa=92}}
| Chauncey Billups (33)
| Mehmet Okur (9)
| Tayshaun Prince (6)
| [[Pyramid Arena]]<br>13,340
| 8–4
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 13
| November 21
| [[2003–04 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031121|home=DET|pf=94|pa=85}}
| Chauncey Billups (23)
| B. Wallace, Okur (9)
| Chauncey Billups (3)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 9–4
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 14
| November 23
| [[2003–04 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031123|home=DET|pf=80|pa=81}}
| Prince, Hamilton (13)
| Mehmet Okur (18)
| Chauncey Billups (9)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 9–5
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 15
| November 24
| @ [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031124|home=ATL|pf=94|pa=89}}
| Chauncey Billups (24)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Billups, [[Bob Sura|Sura]] (4)
| [[Philips Arena]]<br>18,255
| 10–5
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 16
| November 26
| @ [[2003–04 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031126|home=PHI|pf=86|pa=90}}
| Richard Hamilton (19)
| Ben Wallace (8)
| Richard Hamilton (6)
| [[Wachovia Center]]<br>20,512
| 10–6
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 17
| November 28
| [[2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031128|home=DET|pf=92|pa=88}}
| Richard Hamilton (44)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Tayshaun Prince (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 11–6
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 18
| November 29
| @ [[2003–04 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031129|home=WAS|pf=80|pa=69}}
| Richard Hamilton (25)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| [[MCI Center]]<br>16,853
| 12–6
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|December|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 5
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 3
| home_losses = 3
Line 236: Line 424:
| road_losses = 4
| road_losses = 4
}}
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|January
| 19
| December 1
| @ [[2003–04 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031201|home=NYK|pf=79|pa=78|ot=1}}
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (24)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (14)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (6)
| [[Madison Square Garden]]<br>17,082
| 13–6
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 20
| December 3
| [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031203|home=DET|pf=87|pa=73}}
| Richard Hamilton (18)
| Ben Wallace (21)
| B. Wallace, Billups, [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] (3)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>17,703
| 14–6
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 21
| December 6
| @ [[2003–04 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031206|home=HOU|pf=80|pa=86}}
| Richard Hamilton (17)
| Ben Wallace (10)
| Chauncey Billups (4)
| [[Toyota Center]]<br>18,144
| 14–7
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 22
| December 9
| [[2003–04 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031209|home=DET|pf=76|pa=78}}
| Chauncey Billups (29)
| Ben Wallace (9)
| Richard Hamilton (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,166
| 14–8
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 23
| December 11
| @ [[2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031211|home=CLE|pf=86|pa=95}}
| Richard Hamilton (19)
| Ben Wallace (9)
| Richard Hamiton (8)
| [[Gund Arena]]<br>15,115
| 14–9
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 24
| December 12
| [[2003–04 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031212|home=DET|pf=72|pa=93}}
| Ben Wallace (14)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,244
| 14–10
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 25
| December 17
| [[2003–04 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031217|home=DET|pf=77|pa=73}}
| Richaed Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Prince, Hamilton, [[Chucky Atkins|Atkins]] (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>17,041
| 15–10
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 26
| December 19
| @ [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031219|home=IND|pf=75|pa=80}}
| Chauncey Billups (13)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (3)
| [[Conseco Fieldhouse]]<br>16,383
| 15–11
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 27
| December 21
| [[2003–04 Utah Jazz season|Utah]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031221|home=DET|pf=96|pa=75}}
| Chauncey Billups (19)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 16–11
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 28
| December 23
| @ [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031223|home=MIL|pf=78|pa=83}}
| Richard Hamilton (17)
| Ben Wallace (20)
| Hamilton, Billups (4)
| [[Bradley Center]]<br>15,081
| 16–12
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 29
| December 26
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031226|home=DET|pf=79|pa=82}}
| Richard Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (18)
| Ben Wallace (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 16–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 30
| December 27
| @ [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031227|home=ATL|pf=87|pa=84}}
| Richard Hamilton (28)
| Ben Wallace (10)
| Chauncey Billups (4)
| [[Philips Arena]]<br>19,445
| 17–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 31
| December 29
| [[2003–04 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031229|home=DET|pf=108|pa=99}}
| Chauncey Billups (31)
| Ben Wallace (18)
| Richard Hamilton (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 18–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 32
| December 31
| [[2003–04 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20031231|home=DET|pf=78|pa=71}}
| Chauncey Billups (22)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,458
| 19–13
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|January|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 8
| home_wins = 8
| home_losses = 1
| home_losses = 1
Line 242: Line 570:
| road_losses = 2
| road_losses = 2
}}
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|February
| 33
| January 2
| [[2003–04 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040102|home=DET|pf=93|pa=81}}
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (26)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (22)
| Hamilton, [[Chauncey Billups|Billups]] (6)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 20–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 34
| January 3
| [[2003–04 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040103|home=DET|pf=99|pa=93}}
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (20)
| Tayshaun Prince (9)
| Chauncey Billups (10)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,719
| 21–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 35
| January 5
| @ [[2003–04 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040105|home=BOS|pf=78|pa=68}}
| Richard Hamilton (15)
| Ben Wallace (16)
| Ben Wallace (5)
| [[FleetCenter]]<br>13,015
| 22–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 36
| January 7
| [[2003–04 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040107|home=DET|pf=85|pa=66}}
| Richard Hamilton (16)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>19,111
| 23–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 37
| January 11
| [[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040111|home=DET|pf=115|pa=102}}
| Chauncey Billups (27)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Prince, Billups (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 24–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 38
| January 13
| @ [[2003–04 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040113|home=CHI|pf=105|pa=89}}
| Richard Hamilton (24)
| Ben Wallace (17)
| Prince, Billups (7)
| [[United Center]]<br>17,295
| 25–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 39
| January 14
| [[2003–04 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040114|home=DET|pf=95|pa=91}}
| Hamilton, [[Mehmet Okur|Okur]] (27)
| Mehmet Okur (14)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>18,473
| 26–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 40
| January 16
| [[2003–04 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040116|home=DET|pf=98|pa=77}}
| Richard Hamilton (17)
| Mehmet Okur (9)
| Chauncey Bullups (10)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,539
| 27–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 41
| January 17
| @ [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040117|home=MIL|pf=99|pa=94}}
| Chauncey Billups (26)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chaucney Billups (6)
| [[Bradley Center]]<br>18,717
| 28–13
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 42
| January 19
| [[2003–04 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040119|home=DET|pf=85|pa=77}}
| Chauncey Billups (18)
| Ben Wallace (16)
| Richard Hamilton (6)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 29–13
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 43
| January 20
| @ [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040120|home=IND|pf=69|pa=81}}
| Richard Hamilton (15)
| Ben Wallace (10)
| [[Chucky Atkins]] (4)
| [[Conseco Fieldhouse]]<br>15,848
| 29–14
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 44
| January 23
| @ [[2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040123|home=MIN|pf=79|pa=80}}
| Mehmet Okur (21)
| B. Wallace, Hamilton (10)
| Chucky Atkins (5)
| [[Target Center]]<br>19,006
| 29–15
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 45
| January 25
| [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040125|home=DET|pf=82|pa=91}}
| Ben Wallace (14)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Ben Wallace (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 29–16
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 46
| January 28
| @ Boston
| {{NBA game br|date=20040128|home=BOS|pf=106|pa=103}}
| Billups, Okur (21)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| B. Wallace, Atkins (4)
| FleetCenter<br>14,042
| 30–16
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 47
| January 30
| @ Toronto
| {{NBA game br|date=20040130|home=TOR|pf=90|pa=89|ot=1}}
| Richard Hamilton (28)
| Ben Wallace (18)
| Chauncey Billups (4)
| [[Air Canada Centre]]<br>19,555
| 31–16
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 48
| January 31
| [[2003–04 Memphis Grizzlies season|Memphis]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040131|home=DET|pf=80|pa=78}}
| Richard Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (5)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 32–16
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|February|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 2
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 4
| home_losses = 4
Line 248: Line 736:
| road_losses = 4
| road_losses = 4
}}
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|March
| 49
| February 2
| @ [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040202|home=MIA|pf=102|pa=100|ot=1}}
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (24)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (12)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (7)
| [[American Airlines Arena]]<br>15,438
| 33–16
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 50
| February 3
| [[2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040203|home=DET|pf=82|pa=85}}
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (19)
| Ben Wallace (17)
| Chauncey Billups (5)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 33–17
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 51
| February 6
| @ [[2003–04 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040206|home=NOH|pf=81|pa=92}}
| Ben Wallace (14)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Richard Hamilton (5)
| [[New Orleans Arena]]<br>14,016
| 33–18
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 52
| February 7
| @ [[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040207|home=DAL|pf=108|pa=111}}
| Chauncey Billups (17)
| Ben Wallace (8)
| Richard Hamilton (6)
| [[American Airlines Center]]<br>20,357
| 33–19
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 53
| February 10
| @ [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040210|home=NJN|pf=78|pa=89}}
| Chauncey Billups (23)
| Ben Wallace (12)
| Chauncey Billups (5)
| [[Continental Airlines Arena]]<br>13,781
| 33–20
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 54
| February 11
| [[2003–04 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040211|home=DET|pf=94|pa=96}}
| Richard Hamilton (27)
| Ben Wallace (19)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 33–21
|- align="center"
|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|'''[[2004 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Break]]'''
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 55
| February 17
| @ [[2003–04 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040217|home=NYK|pf=88|pa=92}}
| Chauncey Billups (26)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| [[Mehmet Okur|Okur]], [[Bob Sura|Sura]] (3)
| [[Madison Square Garden]]<br>19,763
| 33–22
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 56
| February 18
| [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040218|home=DET|pf=102|pa=98}}
| Richard Hamilton (23)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 34–22
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 57
| February 20
| [[2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040220|home=DET|pf=87|pa=88}}
| Richard Hamilton (24)
| Ben Wallace (12)
| Chauncey Billups (11)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 34–23
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 58
| February 22
| [[2003–04 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040222|home=DET|pf=86|pa=87}}
| Richard Hamilton (23)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (8)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 34–24
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 59
| February 23
| @ [[2003–04 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040223|home=PHI|pf=76|pa=66}}
| Richard Hamilton (15)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (4)
| [[Wachovia Center]]<br>19,972
| 35–24
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 60
| February 25
| @ [[2003–04 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040225|home=CHI|pf=107|pa=88}}
| Richard Hamilton (21)
| Ben Wallace (8)
| Billips, Hamilton (6)
| [[United Center]]<br>19,814
| 36–24
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 61
| February 27
| [[2003–04 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040227|home=DET|pf=105|pa=83}}
| Billups, Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (8)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 37–24
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 62
| February 29
| @ [[2003–04 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040229|home=LAC|pf=100|pa=88}}
| Chauncey Billups (28)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| [[Staples Center]]<br>18,775
| 38–24
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|March|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 5
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 0
| home_losses = 0
Line 254: Line 884:
| road_losses = 3
| road_losses = 3
}}
}}
|-style="background:#fcc;"
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|April
| 63
| March 1
| @ [[2003–04 Utah Jazz season|Utah]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040301|home=UTA|pf=86|pa=94}}
| [[Rasheed Wallace]] (27)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (16)
| [[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] (3)
| [[Delta Center]]<br>19,911
| 38–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 64
| March 4
| @ [[2003–04 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040304|home=POR|pf=83|pa=68}}
| Chauncey Billups (16)
| Ben Wallace (19)
| Tayshaun Prince (6)
| [[Moda Center|Rose Garden]]<br>20,243
| 39–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 65
| March 6
| @ [[2003–04 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040306|home=DEN|pf=97|pa=66}}
| Rasheed Wallace (20)
| Rasheed Wallace (10)
| Chauncey Billups (13)
| [[Pepsi Center]]<br>19,681
| 40–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 66
| March 7
| @ [[2003–04 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040307|home=SEA|pf=86|pa=65}}
| Rasheed Wallace (18)
| Ben Wallace (13)
| [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|Mike James]] (6)
| [[KeyArena]]<br>14,739
| 41–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 67
| March 10
| [[2003–04 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040310|home=DET|pf=98|pa=65}}
| Chauncey Billups (19)
| Ben Wallace (9)
| Hamilton, Billups, James (6)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 42–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 68
| March 14
| [[2003–04 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040314|home=DET|pf=85|pa=69}}
| Rasheed Wallace (14)
| Rasheed Wallace (8)
| Chauncey Billups (9)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 43–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 69
| March 18
| @ [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040318|home=NJN|pf=89|pa=71}}
| Chauncey Billups (20)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (9)
| Chauncey Billups (8)
| [[Continental Airlines Arena]]<br>14,799
| 44–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 70
| March 19
| Denver
| {{NBA game br|date=20040319|home=DET|pf=94|pa=75}}
| R. Wallace, Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (9)
| Chauncey Billups (12)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 45–25
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 71
| March 21
| @ [[2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040321|home=CLE|pf=96|pa=76}}
| Chauncey Billups (18)
| Ben Wallace (10)
| Chauncey Billups (6)
| [[Gund Arena]]<br>20,562
| 46–25
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 72
| March 23
| @ [[2003–04 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040323|home=NOH|pf=81|pa=82}}
| Richard Hamilton (17)
| Ben Wallace (15)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| [[New Orleans Arena]]<br>14,377
| 46–26
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 73
| March 25
| @ [[2003–04 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040325|home=SAS|pf=75|pa=84}}
| Rasheed Wallace (17)
| Rasheed Wallace (14)
| Hamilton, [[Lindsey Hunter|Hunter]] (5)
| [[SBC Center]]<br>17,695
| 46–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 74
| March 27
| [[2003–04 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040327|home=DET|pf=100|pa=85}}
| Tayshaun Prince (20)
| Ben Wallace (12)
| Chauncey Billups (13)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 47–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 75
| March 31
| [[2003–04 Los Angeles Clippers season|L.A. Clippers]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040331|home=DET|pf=108|pa=99}}
| Richard Hamilton (28)
| Ben Wallace (8)
| Mike James (8)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 48–27
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|April|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 5
| home_wins = 5
| home_losses = 0
| home_losses = 0
Line 260: Line 1,020:
| road_losses = 1
| road_losses = 1
}}
}}
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 76
| April 2
| [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040402|home=DET|pf=92|pa=84}}
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (31)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (8)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 49–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 77
| April 4
| [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040404|home=DET|pf=79|pa=61}}
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (24)
| Ben Wallace (11)
| Chauncey Billups (7)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 50–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 78
| April 6
| [[2003–04 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040406|home=DET|pf=102|pa=86}}
| [[Rasheed Wallace]] (17)
| Rasheed Wallace (11)
| [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|Mike James]] (9)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 51–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 79
| April 9
| [[2003–04 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040409|home=DET|pf=74|pa=66}}
| Richard Hamilton (20)
| Ben Wallace (16)
| [[Lindsey Hunter]] (6)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 52–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 80
| April 10
| @ Orlando
| {{NBA game br|date=20040410|home=ORL|pf=101|pa=89}}
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (25)
| [[Corliss Williamson|Williamson]], [[Darko Miličić|Miličić]] (6)
| Mike James (8)
| [[TD Waterhouse Centre]]<br>15,571
| 53–27
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| 81
| April 12
| [[2003–04 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| {{NBA game br|date=20040412|home=DET|pf=101|pa=79}}
| Richard Hamilton (24)
| Ben Wallace (12)
| Richard Hamilton (12)
| The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>22,076
| 54–27
|-style="background:#fcc;"
| 82
| April 13
| @ Toronto
| {{NBA game br|date=20040413|home=TOR|pf=78|pa=87}}
| Tayshaun Prince (21)
| Ben Wallace (7)
| Richard Hamilton (10)
| [[Air Canada Centre]]<br>18,273
| 54–28
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=2004}}
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=2004}}


==Playoffs==
==Playoffs==


{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=2004|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#006BB7|color=#ED164B}}
===East First Round===
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|First Round|first=yes|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 2
(3) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (6) [[Milwaukee Bucks]]: ''Pistons win series 4–1''
| home_losses = 1
*'''Game 1''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040418/MILDET/recap.html '''Detroit 108''', Milwaukee 82]
| road_wins = 2
*'''Game 2''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040421/MILDET/recap.html '''Milwaukee 92''', Detroit 88]
| road_losses = 0
*'''Game 3''' @ [[Bradley Center]], [[Milwaukee]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040424/DETMIL/recap.html '''Detroit 95''', Milwaukee 85]
}}
*'''Game 4''' @ [[Bradley Center]], [[Milwaukee]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040426/DETMIL/recap.html '''Detroit 109''', Milwaukee 92]
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
*'''Game 5''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040429/MILDET/recap.html '''Detroit 91''', Milwaukee 77]
| 1

| April 18
'''Last Playoff Meeting''': [[1989 NBA Playoffs|1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals]] (Detroit won 4-0)
| [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404180DET.html W 108–82]
===East Conference Semifinals===
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (21)

| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (14)
(2) [[New Jersey Nets]] vs. (3) [[Detroit Pistons]]: ''Pistons win series 4–3''
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (8)
*'''Game 1''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040503/NJNDET/recap.html '''Detroit 78''', New Jersey 56]
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
*'''Game 2''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040507/NJNDET/recap.html '''Detroit 95''', New Jersey 80]
| 1–0
*'''Game 3''' @ [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040509/DETNJN/recap.html '''New Jersey 82''', Detroit 64]
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
*'''Game 4''' @ [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040511/DETNJN/recap.html '''New Jersey 94''', Detroit 79]
| 2
*'''Game 5''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040514/NJNDET/recap.html '''New Jersey 127''', Detroit 120] (3OT)
| April 21
*'''Game 6''' @ [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040516/DETNJN/recap.html '''Detroit 81''', New Jersey 75]
| [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
*'''Game 7''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040520/NJNDET/recap.html '''Detroit 90''', New Jersey 69]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404210DET.html L 88–92]

| [[Chauncey Billups]] (20)
'''Last Playoff Meeting''': [[2003 NBA Playoffs|2003 Eastern Conference Finals]] (New Jersey won 4-0)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (12)

| [[Chauncey Billups]] (8)
===East Conference Finals===
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076

| 1–1
(1) [[Indiana Pacers]] vs. (3) [[Detroit Pistons]]: ''Pistons win series 4–2''
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
*'''Game 1''' @ [[Conseco Fieldhouse]], [[Indiana]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040522/DETIND/recap.html '''Indiana 78''', Detroit 74] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
| 3
*'''Game 2''' @ [[Conseco Fieldhouse]], [[Indiana]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040524/DETIND/recap.html '''Detroit 72''', Indiana 67] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
| April 24
*'''Game 3''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040526/INDDET/recap.html '''Detroit 85''', Indiana 78] ESPN 8:00pm
| @ [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
*'''Game 4''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040528/INDDET/recap.html '''Indiana 83''', Detroit 68] ESPN 8:00pm
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404240MIL.html W 95–85]
*'''Game 5''' @ [[Conseco Fieldhouse]], [[Indiana]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040530/DETIND/recap.html '''Detroit 83''', Indiana 65] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (21)
*'''Game 6''' @ [[The Palace (venue)|The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Detroit]]: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040601/INDDET/recap.html '''Detroit 69''', Indiana 65] ESPN 8:00pm
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (21)

| [[Chauncey Billups]] (7)
'''Last Playoff Meeting''': [[1990 NBA Playoffs|1990 Eastern Conference First Round]] (Detroit won 3-0)
| [[Bradley Center]]<br>18,717
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 4
| April 26
| @ [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404260MIL.html W 109–92]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (27)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|B. Wallace]], [[Rasheed Wallace|R. Wallace]] (9)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (9)
| [[Bradley Center]]<br>17,316
| 3–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 5
| April 29
| [[2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404290DET.html W 91–77]
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (24)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (12)
| [[Tayshaun Prince]] (8)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 4–1
|-
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Conference Semifinals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 3
| home_losses = 1
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 2
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| May 3
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405030DET.html W 78–56]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] (15)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (11)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (7)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| May 7
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405070DET.html W 95–80]
| [[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]] (28)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (11)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (13)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 2–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 3
| May 9
| @ [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405090NJN.html L 64–82]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|B. Wallace]] (15)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (24)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (4)
| [[Meadowlands Arena|Continental Airlines Arena]]<br>19,000
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4
| May 11
| @ [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405110NJN.html L 79–94]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (30)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (15)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (5)
| [[Meadowlands Arena|Continental Airlines Arena]]<br>19,860
| 2–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| May 14
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405140DET.html L 120–127 (3OT)]
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (31)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (11)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (11)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 2–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 6
| May 16
| @ [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405160NJN.html W 81–75]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (24)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (20)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (4)
| [[Meadowlands Arena|Continental Airlines Arena]]<br>19,968
| 3–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 7
| May 20
| [[2003–04 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405200DET.html W 90–69]
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (22)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (8)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (7)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 4–3
|-
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Conference Finals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 1
| road_wins = 2
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 1
| May 22
| @ [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405220IND.html L 74–78]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (23)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (22)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (5)
| [[Bankers Life Fieldhouse|Conseco Fieldhouse]]<br>18,345
| 0–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| May 24
| @ [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405240IND.html W 72–67]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (23)
| three players tied (8)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (6)
| [[Bankers Life Fieldhouse|Conseco Fieldhouse]]<br>18,345
| 1–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| May 26
| [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405260DET.html W 85–78]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Rasheed Wallace|R. Wallace]] (20)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (16)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (8)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4
| May 28
| [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405280DET.html L 68–83]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (22)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (19)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (5)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 2–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 5
| May 30
| @ [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405300IND.html W 83–65]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (33)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (12)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (7)
| [[Bankers Life Fieldhouse|Conseco Fieldhouse]]<br>18,345
| 3–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 6
| June 1
| [[2003–04 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406010DET.html W 69–65]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (21)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (16)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (5)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 4–2
|-
{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|NBA Finals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF
| home_wins = 3
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| June 6
| @ [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406060LAL.html W 87–75]
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (22)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|B. Wallace]], [[Rasheed Wallace|R. Wallace]] (8)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (5)
| [[Staples Center]]<br>18,997
| 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 2
| June 8
| @ [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406080LAL.html L 91–99 (OT)]
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (27)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (14)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (9)
| [[Staples Center]]<br>18,997
| 1–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| June 10
| [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406100DET.html W 88–68]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (31)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (11)
| three players tied (3)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 2–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 4
| June 13
| [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406130DET.html W 88–80]
| [[Rasheed Wallace]] (26)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|B. Wallace]], [[Rasheed Wallace|R. Wallace]] (13)
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (6)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 3–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 5
| June 15
| [[2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season|L.A. Lakers]]
| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406150DET.html W 100–87]
| [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] (21)
| [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] (22)
| [[Chauncey Billups]] (6)
| [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]]<br>22,076
| 4–1
|-
{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=2004|playoffs=yes}}


===NBA Finals===
==NBA Finals==


====Series summary====
===Series summary===
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The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with [[Home field advantage|home court advantage]]. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2-2-1-1-1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.betinf.com/nba_playoffs.htm|work=betinf.com|title=Basketball: NBA Playoffs 2007 preview|accessdate=2007-09-03}}</ref>
The Finals were played using a 2–3–2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with [[Home field advantage|home court advantage]]. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2–2–1–1–1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.betinf.com/nba_playoffs.htm|work=betinf.com|title=Basketball: NBA Playoffs 2007 preview|access-date=2007-09-03}}</ref>


====Aspects====
===Aspects===
The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as [[Karl Malone]], [[Gary Payton]], [[Derek Fisher]], [[Kobe Bryant]], and [[Shaquille O'Neal]] – their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.
The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as [[Karl Malone]], [[Gary Payton]], [[Derek Fisher]], [[Kobe Bryant]], and [[Shaquille O'Neal]] – their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.


Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|All-Stars]] who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] there in [[1996 NBA Finals|1996]], while Malone had led the [[Utah Jazz]] there in [[1997 NBA Finals|1997]] and [[1998 NBA Finals|1998]].<ref name="CBS Jazz">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/UTA|work=[[CBS]] Sports|title=Utah Jazz|accessdate=2007-09-04}}</ref> However, [[Michael Jordan]] and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs.<ref name="CBS Jazz" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA|work=[[CBS Sports]]|title=Seattle Supersonics|accessdate=2007-09-04| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070826231320/http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA| archivedate= 26 August 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the [[Miami Heat]]).
Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|All-Stars]] who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] there in [[1996 NBA Finals|1996]], while Malone had led the [[Utah Jazz]] there in [[1997 NBA Finals|1997]] and [[1998 NBA Finals|1998]].<ref name="CBS Jazz">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/UTA|work=[[CBS]] Sports|title=Utah Jazz|access-date=2007-09-04}}</ref> However, [[Michael Jordan]] and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs.<ref name="CBS Jazz" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA|work=[[CBS Sports]]|title=Seattle Supersonics|access-date=2007-09-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070826231320/http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA| archive-date= 26 August 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the [[Miami Heat]]).


====Game One====
===Game One===
''Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the [[Staples Center]].''
''Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the [[Staples Center]].''


Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense.<ref>{{cite web|work=NBA|title=Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20040606/DETLAL/recap.html|quote=Led by their trademark daunting defense|accessdate=2007-09-04}}</ref> Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.
Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense.<ref>{{cite web|work=NBA|title=Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20040606/DETLAL/recap.html|quote=Led by their trademark daunting defense|access-date=2007-09-04}}</ref> Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.


The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41&ndash;40 at halftime, but a 10&ndash;4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.


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====Game Two====
===Game Two===
''Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.''
''Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.''


The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68&ndash;66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89&ndash;89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10&ndash;2.
The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68–66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89–89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10–2.


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====Game Three====
===Game Three===
''Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]].''
''Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]].''


The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|title=DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY|work=Basketball Tickets|accessdate=2007-09-03|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806215319/http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|archivedate=2007-08-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> to take a 2&ndash;1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post-[[shot clock]]) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even [[Jay Leno]] was upset, saying in his ''[[The Tonight Show|Tonight Show]]'' monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing ''[[golf]]''!")
The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|title=DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY|work=Basketball Tickets|access-date=2007-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806215319/http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|archive-date=2007-08-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post-[[shot clock]]) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even [[Jay Leno]] was upset, saying in his ''[[The Tonight Show|Tonight Show]]'' monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing ''[[golf]]''!")


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====Game Four====
===Game Four===
''Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.''
''Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.''


Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3&ndash;1 series advantage.
Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage.


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====Game Five====
===Game Five===
''Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.''
''Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.''


In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4-1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005-06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions [[Miami Heat]] and Malone retired).
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4–1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005–06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions [[Miami Heat]] and Malone retired).


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===Playoff Defensive Records===
==Playoff defensive records==
As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955–Present) defensive Playoff records
As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955–present) defensive playoff records:


* Allowed under 90 points in 18 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=89&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 90 points in eighteen playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=89&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 85 points in 16 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=84&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 85 points in sixteen playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=84&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 80 points in 11 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=79&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 80 points in eleven playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=79&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 75 points in 6 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=74&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 75 points in six playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=74&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 70 points in 6 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=69&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 70 points in six playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=69&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed 65 or less points in 3 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=65&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed 65 or less points in three playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=65&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* One of 2 teams ([[1997–98 Chicago Bulls season|1998 Bulls]]) to allow under 60 points in a playoff game <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=60&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* One of two teams ([[1997–98 Chicago Bulls season|1998 Bulls]]) to allow under 60 points in a playoff game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=60&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 40% FG in 12 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=40&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 40% FG in twelve playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=40&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 35% FG in 5 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=35&order_by=pts}}</ref> (Tied with [[1998–99 New York Knicks season|1999 Knicks]])
* Allowed under 35% FG in five playoff games (tied with [[1998–99 New York Knicks season|1999 Knicks]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=35&order_by=pts}}</ref>
* Allowed under 30% FG in 2 playoff games <ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=30&order_by=pts}}</ref> (Tied with 1999 Knicks)
* Allowed under 30% FG in two playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=30&order_by=pts}}</ref>


Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era Playoff run of any length
Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:
* The 2004 Pistons allowed 80.696 PPG,<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}}</ref> slightly lower than the [[1999–2000 Miami Heat season|2000 Heat]] at 80.700 PPG allowed <ref>{{cite web|title=2000 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}}</ref>
* The 2004 Pistons allowed 80.696 PPG,<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}}</ref> slightly lower than the [[1999–2000 Miami Heat season|2000 Heat]] at 80.700 PPG allowed.<ref>{{cite web|title=2000 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}}</ref> Excluding overtime periods, the 2004 Pistons allowed 78.6 PPG during the playoffs in regulation compared to 79.9 PPG allowed for the 2000 Heat.
* Excluding Overtime periods, the 2004 Pistons allowed 78.6 PPG for the Playoffs in regulation compared to 79.9 PPG allowed for the 2000 Heat


The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the Playoffs <ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}}</ref>
The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}}</ref> This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a post-1st round playoff run in the 3-point era (1980–present). The [[1999–2000 San Antonio Spurs season|2000 Spurs]] had a 91.4 Defensive Rating, but this was in a 1st round loss of only four games.<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}}</ref>
* This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a Post-1st Round Playoff run in the 3-point era (1980–present)
* The [[1999–2000 San Antonio Spurs season|2000 Spurs]] had a 91.4 Defensive Rating,<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}}</ref> but this was in a 1st Round loss of only 4 games


==Player statistics==
==Player statistics==
Line 481: Line 1,533:


===Season===
===Season===
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|Player
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GP
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GS
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|MPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FG%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|3P%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FT%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|RPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|APG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|SPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | PPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|BPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|PPG
|-
|-
| {{sort|Billups, Chauncey|[[Chauncey Billups]]}}
| {{sort|Billups, Chauncey|[[Chauncey Billups]]}}
Line 525: Line 1,578:
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 82 || 80 || 32.9 || .467 || .363 || .766 || 4.8 || 2.3 || 0.77 || 0.84 || 10.3
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 82 || 80 || 32.9 || .467 || .363 || .766 || 4.8 || 2.3 || 0.77 || 0.84 || 10.3
|-
|-
| {{sort|Wallace, Ben|[[Ben Wallace]]}}
| {{sort|Wallace, Ben|[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]]}}
| 81 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 81 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 37.7 || .421 || .125 || .490 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 12.4 || 1.7 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.77 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 3.04 || 9.5
| 81 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 81 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 37.7 || .421 || .125 || .490 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 12.4 || 1.7 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.77 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 3.04 || 9.5
|-
|-
Line 537: Line 1,590:


===Playoffs===
===Playoffs===
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="10%" | Player
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | GP
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|Player
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | GS
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GP
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | MPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GS
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | FG%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|MPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | 3P%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FG%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | FT%
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|3P%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | RPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FT%
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | APG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|RPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | SPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|APG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | BPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|SPG
! style="background:#00519a;color:white;" width="6%" | PPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|BPG
! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|PPG
|-
|-
| {{sort|Billups, Chauncey|[[Chauncey Billups]]}}
| {{sort|Billups, Chauncey|[[Chauncey Billups]]}}
Line 578: Line 1,632:
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || 34.6 || .410 || .265 || .745 || 6.0 || 2.3 || 1.09 || 1.35 || 9.9
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || 34.6 || .410 || .265 || .745 || 6.0 || 2.3 || 1.09 || 1.35 || 9.9
|-
|-
| {{sort|Wallace, Ben|[[Ben Wallace]]}}
| {{sort|Wallace, Ben|[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]]}}
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 40.2 || .454 || .000 || .427 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 14.3 || 1.9 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.91 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2.43 || 10.3
| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 40.2 || .454 || .000 || .427 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 14.3 || 1.9 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.91 || style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2.43 || 10.3
|-
|-
Line 590: Line 1,644:
==Award winners==
==Award winners==
*[[Chauncey Billups]], [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]]
*[[Chauncey Billups]], [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]]
*[[Ben Wallace]], [[All-NBA Second Team]]
*[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]], [[All-NBA Second Team]]
*[[Ben Wallace]], [[NBA All-Defensive First Team]]
*[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]], [[NBA All-Defensive First Team]]


==Transactions==
==Transactions==
Line 629: Line 1,683:
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align: center; width: 100%" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5"
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align: center; width: 100%" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5"
|- style="background:#eee;"
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="width:12%" | August 21, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=Robinson should be help to Dunleavy in frontcourt|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1600343|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=August 21, 2003|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:12%" | August 21, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=Robinson should be help to Dunleavy in frontcourt|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1600343|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=August 21, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''<hr>[[Bob Sura]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''<hr>[[Bob Sura]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''<hr>[[Clifford Robinson (basketball, born 1966)|Clifford Robinson]]<br>[[Juan Ignacio Sánchez|Pepe Sánchez]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''<hr>[[Clifford Robinson (basketball, born 1966)|Clifford Robinson]]<br>[[Juan Ignacio Sánchez|Pepe Sánchez]]
|-
|-
| style="width:12%" | August 28, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons trade Curry for Hunter|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1605003|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=August 28, 2003|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:12%" | August 28, 2003<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons trade Curry for Hunter|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1605003|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=August 28, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''<hr>[[Lindsey Hunter]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''<hr>[[Lindsey Hunter]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Toronto Raptors]]'''<hr>[[Michael Curry (basketball)|Michael Curry]]
| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To '''[[Toronto Raptors]]'''<hr>[[Michael Curry (basketball)|Michael Curry]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="width:12%" rowspan="3" | February 19, 2004<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Acquire Forward/Center Rasheed Wallace From Hawks And Guard Mike James From Boston In Three-Way Deal|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/rwallace_040219.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 19, 2004|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:12%" rowspan="3" | February 19, 2004<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Acquire Forward/Center Rasheed Wallace From Hawks And Guard Mike James From Boston In Three-Way Deal|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/rwallace_040219.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 19, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="width:30%" valign="top" colspan="2" | '''Three-team trade'''
| style="width:30%" valign="top" colspan="2" | '''Three-team trade'''
|- bgcolor="#eee"
|- bgcolor="#eee"
Line 667: Line 1,721:
| [[Elden Campbell]]
| [[Elden Campbell]]
| [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Free-Agent Center Elden Campbell|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=July 26, 2003|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092858/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|archivedate=December 3, 2010|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Campbell signs with the Pistons|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/999466/Campbell-signs-with-the-Pistons.html|website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 27, 2003|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Free-Agent Center Elden Campbell|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=July 26, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092858/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Campbell signs with the Pistons|url=https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/27/19737903/campbell-signs-with-the-pistons/|website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 27, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| September 23
| September 23
| [[Darvin Ham]]
| [[Darvin Ham]]
| [[Atlanta Hawks]]
| [[Atlanta Hawks]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free agent F Darvin Ham|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1622017|website=ESPN.com|date=September 23, 2003|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free agent F Darvin Ham|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1622017|website=ESPN.com|date=September 23, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| October 28
| October 28
| [[Tremaine Fowlkes]]
| [[Tremaine Fowlkes]]
| [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free-agent Tremaine Fowlkes|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1649103|website=ESPN.com|date=October 28, 2003|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free-agent Tremaine Fowlkes|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1649103|website=ESPN.com|date=October 28, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| February 26
| February 26
| [[Lindsey Hunter]]
| [[Lindsey Hunter]]
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Boston Celtics]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Lindsey Hunter|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 26, 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092718/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|archivedate=December 3, 2010|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Lindsey Hunter|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 26, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092718/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 697: Line 1,751:
| Retired
| Retired
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Manning Retires After 15 Seasons in NBA|url=https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|website=NBA.com|date=September 13, 2003|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608142557/https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|archivedate=June 8, 2019|accessdate=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Manning Retires After 15 Seasons in NBA|url=https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|website=NBA.com|date=September 13, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608142557/https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|archive-date=June 8, 2019|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| rowspan="2"|October 22
| rowspan="2"|October 22
Line 703: Line 1,757:
| Waived
| Waived
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Ionikos N.F. B.C.|Ionikos]]
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Ionikos N.F. B.C.|Ionikos]]
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Guards Derrick Zimmerman and Justin Hamilton|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 22, 2003|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092828/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|archivedate=December 3, 2010|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HAMILTON, JUSTIN|url=https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=CSW&seasoncode=U2003|website=Euroleague.net|accessdate=July 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Brose Baskets signs Zimmerman at point|url=https://admin.euroleague.net/eurocup/news/i/3187/brose-baskets-signs-zimmerman-at-point|website=Euroleague.net|date=November 8, 2006|accessdate=July 13, 2019}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Guards Derrick Zimmerman and Justin Hamilton|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 22, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092828/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HAMILTON, JUSTIN|url=https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=CSW&seasoncode=U2003|website=Euroleague.net|access-date=July 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Brose Baskets signs Zimmerman at point|url=https://admin.euroleague.net/eurocup/news/i/3187/brose-baskets-signs-zimmerman-at-point|website=Euroleague.net|date=November 8, 2006|access-date=July 13, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| [[Derrick Zimmerman]]
| [[Derrick Zimmerman]]
Line 713: Line 1,767:
| Waived
| Waived
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Forward Ronald Dupree|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 23, 2003|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092824/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|archivedate=December 3, 2010|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Transactions|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/dwight-buycks-sign-with-shenzhen/|website=Deseret News|date=January 8, 2004|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Forward Ronald Dupree|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 23, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092824/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Transactions|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/dwight-buycks-sign-with-shenzhen/|website=Deseret News|date=January 8, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|- style="text-align: center"
|- style="text-align: center"
| January 20
| January 20
Line 719: Line 1,773:
| Waived
| Waived
| [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| <ref>{{cite web|first=Fred|last=Kerber|title=HUBERT'S GOT STREAK OF HIS OWN|url=https://nypost.com/2004/02/22/huberts-got-streak-of-his-own/|website=New York Post|date=February 22, 2004|accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|first=Fred|last=Kerber|title=HUBERT'S GOT STREAK OF HIS OWN|url=https://nypost.com/2004/02/22/huberts-got-streak-of-his-own/|website=New York Post|date=February 22, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
|}
|}



Latest revision as of 22:04, 7 November 2024

2003–04 Detroit Pistons season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Head coachLarry Brown
General managerJoe Dumars
PresidentJoe Dumars
Owner(s)Bill Davidson
ArenaThe Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–1)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWDFN
< 2002–03 2004–05 >

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 63rd season for the Pistons, the 56th in the National Basketball Association, and the 47th in the Detroit area.[1] Despite a solid year the previous season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, which they obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies. They selected Darko Miličić as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most suboptimal picks in the history of the NBA draft. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1991, the Pistons hired Larry Brown as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33–16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks after playing just one game for them.[2] With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54–28 record. Ben Wallace was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with Miličić being the youngest player to win said championship.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the New Jersey Nets who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons by winning 3 straight games to take a 3–2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5 at The Palace. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13–2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win Game 6 81–75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held Jason Kidd to 0 points to defeat the Nets 90–69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1990. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since 1990. Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP.[3]

Draft picks

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Team
1 2 Darko Miličić Forward/Center  Serbia and Montenegro Hemofarm Vrsac (Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League)
1 25 Carlos Delfino Guard  Argentina Unión de Santa Fe (Argentina)
2 58 Andreas Glyniadakis Center  Greece AEK Athens (Greece)

Roster

[edit]
2003–04 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 1 Billups, Chauncey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1976-09-25 Colorado
C 41 Campbell, Elden 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 279 lb (127 kg) 1968-07-23 Clemson
SF 24 Fowlkes, Tremaine 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1976-04-11 Fresno State
SF 8 Ham, Darvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973-07-23 Texas Tech
SG 32 Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1978-02-14 Connecticut
SG 10 Hunter, Lindsey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1970-12-03 Jackson State
PG 7 James, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1975-06-23 Duquesne
C 31 Miličić, Darko 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1985-06-20 Serbia and Montenegro
PF 13 Okur, Mehmet 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1979-05-26 Turkey
SF 22 Prince, Tayshaun 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980-02-28 Kentucky
C 3 Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974-09-10 Virginia Union
PF 30 Wallace, Rasheed 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974-09-17 North Carolina
PF 34 Williamson, Corliss 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973-12-04 Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 26, 2004

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 34–7 27–14 20–8
x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7 31–10 23–18 17–11
x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20 25–16 16–25 14–14
x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20 27–14 14–27 15–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26 23–18 12–29 14–14
Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28 18–23 15–26 11–17
Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33 18–23 10–31 10–18
Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38 14–27 9–32 11–17
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744
2 y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 14
3 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7
4 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 19
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20
7 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26
10 Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28
11 Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 28
12 Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33
13 Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 36
14 Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38
15 Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 40

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
2003–04 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Boston 1–3 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–1
Chicago 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–3
Cleveland 3–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–2
Dallas 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–0
Detroit 3–1 3–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0
Golden State 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Houston 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–0
Indiana 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1
L.A. Clippers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–0 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–0
Memphis 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–0
Miami 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–0
New Jersey 3–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–0
New Orleans 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
New York 3–0 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 4–0
Orlando 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 4–0
Philadelphia 2–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–1
Portland 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–0 4–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 2–0
Seattle 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–1
Toronto 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3
Utah 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1
Washington 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1

Game log

[edit]
2003–04 game log
Total: 54–28 (Home: 31–10; Road: 23–18)
October: 1–1 (home: 0–1; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 October 29 Indiana L 87–89 Wallace, Prince (16) Ben Wallace (17) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
0–1
2 October 31 @ Miami W 93–81 Chauncey Billups (27) Ben Wallace (15) Tayshaun Prince (5) American Airlines Arena
15,825
1–1
November: 11–5 (home: 6–1; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
3 November 1 @ Orlando W 96–85 Richard Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (17) Chauncey Billups (4) TD Waterhouse Centre
14,588
2–1
4 November 5 Boston W 96–88 Chauncey Billups (27) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,376
3–1
5 November 7 Milwaukee W 105–99 Chauncey Billups (27) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,204
4–1
6 November 9 New Jersey W 98–84 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,664
5–1
7 November 11 @ Sacramento L 91–97 Richard Hamilton (19) Mehmet Okur (9) Hamilton, Billups (3) ARCO Arena
17,317
5–2
8 November 12 @ Golden State L 85–87 (OT) Chauncey Billups (19) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (12) The Arena in Oakland
14,382
5–3
9 November 14 @ L.A. Lakers L 89–94 Chauncey Billups (29) Mehmet Okur (9) Billups, Hamilton (5) Staples Center
18,997
5–4
10 November 15 @ Phoenix W 100–91 Richard Hamilton (27) Ben Wallace (16) Tayshaun Prince (5) America West Arena
15,681
6–4
11 November 18 L.A. Lakers W 106–96 Chauncey Billups (25) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
7–4
12 November 19 @ Memphis W 99–92 Chauncey Billups (33) Mehmet Okur (9) Tayshaun Prince (6) Pyramid Arena
13,340
8–4
13 November 21 New York W 94–85 Chauncey Billups (23) B. Wallace, Okur (9) Chauncey Billups (3) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
9–4
14 November 23 New Orleans L 80–81 Prince, Hamilton (13) Mehmet Okur (18) Chauncey Billups (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
9–5
15 November 24 @ Atlanta W 94–89 Chauncey Billups (24) Ben Wallace (15) Billups, Sura (4) Philips Arena
18,255
10–5
16 November 26 @ Philadelphia L 86–90 Richard Hamilton (19) Ben Wallace (8) Richard Hamilton (6) Wachovia Center
20,512
10–6
17 November 28 Cleveland W 92–88 Richard Hamilton (44) Ben Wallace (15) Tayshaun Prince (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
11–6
18 November 29 @ Washington W 80–69 Richard Hamilton (25) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (6) MCI Center
16,853
12–6
December: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
19 December 1 @ New York W 79–78 (OT) Chauncey Billups (24) Ben Wallace (14) Richard Hamilton (6) Madison Square Garden
17,082
13–6
20 December 3 Miami W 87–73 Richard Hamilton (18) Ben Wallace (21) B. Wallace, Billups, Prince (3) The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,703
14–6
21 December 6 @ Houston L 80–86 Richard Hamilton (17) Ben Wallace (10) Chauncey Billups (4) Toyota Center
18,144
14–7
22 December 9 Philadelphia L 76–78 Chauncey Billups (29) Ben Wallace (9) Richard Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,166
14–8
23 December 11 @ Cleveland L 86–95 Richard Hamilton (19) Ben Wallace (9) Richard Hamiton (8) Gund Arena
15,115
14–9
24 December 12 Seattle L 72–93 Ben Wallace (14) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,244
14–10
25 December 17 Chicago W 77–73 Richaed Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (15) Prince, Hamilton, Atkins (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,041
15–10
26 December 19 @ Indiana L 75–80 Chauncey Billups (13) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (3) Conseco Fieldhouse
16,383
15–11
27 December 21 Utah W 96–75 Chauncey Billups (19) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
16–11
28 December 23 @ Milwaukee L 78–83 Richard Hamilton (17) Ben Wallace (20) Hamilton, Billups (4) Bradley Center
15,081
16–12
29 December 26 New Jersey L 79–82 Richard Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (18) Ben Wallace (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
16–13
30 December 27 @ Atlanta W 87–84 Richard Hamilton (28) Ben Wallace (10) Chauncey Billups (4) Philips Arena
19,445
17–13
31 December 29 New Orleans W 108–99 Chauncey Billups (31) Ben Wallace (18) Richard Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
18–13
32 December 31 Portland W 78–71 Chauncey Billups (22) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,458
19–13
January: 13–3 (home: 8–1; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
33 January 2 Phoenix W 93–81 Richard Hamilton (26) Ben Wallace (22) Hamilton, Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
20–13
34 January 3 Golden State W 99–93 Tayshaun Prince (20) Tayshaun Prince (9) Chauncey Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,719
21–13
35 January 5 @ Boston W 78–68 Richard Hamilton (15) Ben Wallace (16) Ben Wallace (5) FleetCenter
13,015
22–13
36 January 7 Houston W 85–66 Richard Hamilton (16) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
19,111
23–13
37 January 11 Dallas W 115–102 Chauncey Billups (27) Ben Wallace (13) Prince, Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
24–13
38 January 13 @ Chicago W 105–89 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (17) Prince, Billups (7) United Center
17,295
25–13
39 January 14 Toronto W 95–91 Hamilton, Okur (27) Mehmet Okur (14) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
18,473
26–13
40 January 16 Washington W 98–77 Richard Hamilton (17) Mehmet Okur (9) Chauncey Bullups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,539
27–13
41 January 17 @ Milwaukee W 99–94 Chauncey Billups (26) Ben Wallace (11) Chaucney Billups (6) Bradley Center
18,717
28–13
42 January 19 San Antonio W 85–77 Chauncey Billups (18) Ben Wallace (16) Richard Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
29–13
43 January 20 @ Indiana L 69–81 Richard Hamilton (15) Ben Wallace (10) Chucky Atkins (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
15,848
29–14
44 January 23 @ Minnesota L 79–80 Mehmet Okur (21) B. Wallace, Hamilton (10) Chucky Atkins (5) Target Center
19,006
29–15
45 January 25 Atlanta L 82–91 Ben Wallace (14) Ben Wallace (15) Ben Wallace (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
29–16
46 January 28 @ Boston W 106–103 Billups, Okur (21) Ben Wallace (15) B. Wallace, Atkins (4) FleetCenter
14,042
30–16
47 January 30 @ Toronto W 90–89 (OT) Richard Hamilton (28) Ben Wallace (18) Chauncey Billups (4) Air Canada Centre
19,555
31–16
48 January 31 Memphis W 80–78 Richard Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
32–16
February: 6–8 (home: 2–4; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
49 February 2 @ Miami W 102–100 (OT) Tayshaun Prince (24) Ben Wallace (12) Richard Hamilton (7) American Airlines Arena
15,438
33–16
50 February 3 Cleveland L 82–85 Chauncey Billups (19) Ben Wallace (17) Chauncey Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
33–17
51 February 6 @ New Orleans L 81–92 Ben Wallace (14) Ben Wallace (13) Richard Hamilton (5) New Orleans Arena
14,016
33–18
52 February 7 @ Dallas L 108–111 Chauncey Billups (17) Ben Wallace (8) Richard Hamilton (6) American Airlines Center
20,357
33–19
53 February 10 @ New Jersey L 78–89 Chauncey Billups (23) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (5) Continental Airlines Arena
13,781
33–20
54 February 11 Sacramento L 94–96 Richard Hamilton (27) Ben Wallace (19) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
33–21
All-Star Break
55 February 17 @ New York L 88–92 Chauncey Billups (26) Ben Wallace (13) Okur, Sura (3) Madison Square Garden
19,763
33–22
56 February 18 Milwaukee W 102–98 Richard Hamilton (23) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
34–22
57 February 20 Minnesota L 87–88 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
34–23
58 February 22 Orlando L 86–87 Richard Hamilton (23) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
34–24
59 February 23 @ Philadelphia W 76–66 Richard Hamilton (15) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (4) Wachovia Center
19,972
35–24
60 February 25 @ Chicago W 107–88 Richard Hamilton (21) Ben Wallace (8) Billips, Hamilton (6) United Center
19,814
36–24
61 February 27 Atlanta W 105–83 Billups, Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
37–24
62 February 29 @ L.A. Clippers W 100–88 Chauncey Billups (28) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (7) Staples Center
18,775
38–24
March: 10–3 (home: 5–0; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
63 March 1 @ Utah L 86–94 Rasheed Wallace (27) Ben Wallace (16) Billups, Prince (3) Delta Center
19,911
38–25
64 March 4 @ Portland W 83–68 Chauncey Billups (16) Ben Wallace (19) Tayshaun Prince (6) Rose Garden
20,243
39–25
65 March 6 @ Denver W 97–66 Rasheed Wallace (20) Rasheed Wallace (10) Chauncey Billups (13) Pepsi Center
19,681
40–25
66 March 7 @ Seattle W 86–65 Rasheed Wallace (18) Ben Wallace (13) Mike James (6) KeyArena
14,739
41–25
67 March 10 Chicago W 98–65 Chauncey Billups (19) Ben Wallace (9) Hamilton, Billups, James (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
42–25
68 March 14 Philadelphia W 85–69 Rasheed Wallace (14) Rasheed Wallace (8) Chauncey Billups (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
43–25
69 March 18 @ New Jersey W 89–71 Chauncey Billups (20) Richard Hamilton (9) Chauncey Billups (8) Continental Airlines Arena
14,799
44–25
70 March 19 Denver W 94–75 R. Wallace, Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (9) Chauncey Billups (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
45–25
71 March 21 @ Cleveland W 96–76 Chauncey Billups (18) Ben Wallace (10) Chauncey Billups (6) Gund Arena
20,562
46–25
72 March 23 @ New Orleans L 81–82 Richard Hamilton (17) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (7) New Orleans Arena
14,377
46–26
73 March 25 @ San Antonio L 75–84 Rasheed Wallace (17) Rasheed Wallace (14) Hamilton, Hunter (5) SBC Center
17,695
46–27
74 March 27 New York W 100–85 Tayshaun Prince (20) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (13) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
47–27
75 March 31 L.A. Clippers W 108–99 Richard Hamilton (28) Ben Wallace (8) Mike James (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
48–27
April: 6–1 (home: 5–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
76 April 2 Miami W 92–84 Chauncey Billups (31) Ben Wallace (8) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
49–27
77 April 4 Indiana W 79–61 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
50–27
78 April 6 Orlando W 102–86 Rasheed Wallace (17) Rasheed Wallace (11) Mike James (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
51–27
79 April 9 Toronto W 74–66 Richard Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (16) Lindsey Hunter (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
52–27
80 April 10 @ Orlando W 101–89 Tayshaun Prince (25) Williamson, Miličić (6) Mike James (8) TD Waterhouse Centre
15,571
53–27
81 April 12 Washington W 101–79 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (12) Richard Hamilton (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
54–27
82 April 13 @ Toronto L 78–87 Tayshaun Prince (21) Ben Wallace (7) Richard Hamilton (10) Air Canada Centre
18,273
54–28
2003–04 schedule

Playoffs

[edit]
2004 playoff game log
First Round: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 18 Milwaukee W 108–82 Richard Hamilton (21) Ben Wallace (14) Richard Hamilton (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
1–0
2 April 21 Milwaukee L 88–92 Chauncey Billups (20) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
1–1
3 April 24 @ Milwaukee W 95–85 Chauncey Billups (21) Ben Wallace (21) Chauncey Billups (7) Bradley Center
18,717
2–1
4 April 26 @ Milwaukee W 109–92 Richard Hamilton (27) B. Wallace, R. Wallace (9) Chauncey Billups (9) Bradley Center
17,316
3–1
5 April 29 Milwaukee W 91–77 Tayshaun Prince (24) Ben Wallace (12) Tayshaun Prince (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
4–1
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 22 @ Indiana L 74–78 Richard Hamilton (23) Ben Wallace (22) Ben Wallace (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345
0–1
2 May 24 @ Indiana W 72–67 Richard Hamilton (23) three players tied (8) Chauncey Billups (6) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345
1–1
3 May 26 Indiana W 85–78 Hamilton, R. Wallace (20) Ben Wallace (16) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
2–1
4 May 28 Indiana L 68–83 Richard Hamilton (22) Ben Wallace (19) Chauncey Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
2–2
5 May 30 @ Indiana W 83–65 Richard Hamilton (33) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345
3–2
6 June 1 Indiana W 69–65 Richard Hamilton (21) Ben Wallace (16) Richard Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
4–2
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 June 6 @ L.A. Lakers W 87–75 Chauncey Billups (22) B. Wallace, R. Wallace (8) Richard Hamilton (5) Staples Center
18,997
1–0
2 June 8 @ L.A. Lakers L 91–99 (OT) Chauncey Billups (27) Ben Wallace (14) Chauncey Billups (9) Staples Center
18,997
1–1
3 June 10 L.A. Lakers W 88–68 Richard Hamilton (31) Ben Wallace (11) three players tied (3) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
2–1
4 June 13 L.A. Lakers W 88–80 Rasheed Wallace (26) B. Wallace, R. Wallace (13) Richard Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
3–1
5 June 15 L.A. Lakers W 100–87 Richard Hamilton (21) Ben Wallace (22) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076
4–1
2004 schedule

NBA Finals

[edit]

Series summary

[edit]
Team/Game 1 2 (OT) 3 4 5 Wins
Los Angeles (West) 75 99 68 80 87 1
Detroit (East) 87 91 88 88 100 4

(OT) denotes a game that required overtime.

The Finals were played using a 2–3–2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2–2–1–1–1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).[4]

Aspects

[edit]

The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal – their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.

Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial All-Stars who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics there in 1996, while Malone had led the Utah Jazz there in 1997 and 1998.[5] However, Michael Jordan and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs.[5][6] Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the Miami Heat).

Game One

[edit]

Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.

Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense.[7] Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.

The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Detroit 22 18 24 23 87
Los Angeles 19 22 17 17 75

Game Two

[edit]

Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.

The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68–66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89–89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10–2.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. OT Total
Detroit 16 20 30 23 2 91
Los Angeles 18 26 24 21 10 99

Game Three

[edit]

Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989[8] to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post-shot clock) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even Jay Leno was upset, saying in his Tonight Show monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing golf!")

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Los Angeles 16 16 19 17 68
Detroit 24 15 24 25 88

Game Four

[edit]

Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Los Angeles 22 17 17 24 80
Detroit 21 20 15 32 88

Game Five

[edit]

Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4–1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005–06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions Miami Heat and Malone retired).

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Los Angeles 24 21 14 28 87
Detroit 25 30 27 18 100

Playoff defensive records

[edit]

As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955–present) defensive playoff records:

  • Allowed under 90 points in eighteen playoff games.[9]
  • Allowed under 85 points in sixteen playoff games.[10]
  • Allowed under 80 points in eleven playoff games.[11]
  • Allowed under 75 points in six playoff games.[12]
  • Allowed under 70 points in six playoff games.[13]
  • Allowed 65 or less points in three playoff games.[14]
  • One of two teams (1998 Bulls) to allow under 60 points in a playoff game.[15]
  • Allowed under 40% FG in twelve playoff games.[16]
  • Allowed under 35% FG in five playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).[17]
  • Allowed under 30% FG in two playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).[18]

Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:

  • The 2004 Pistons allowed 80.696 PPG,[19] slightly lower than the 2000 Heat at 80.700 PPG allowed.[20] Excluding overtime periods, the 2004 Pistons allowed 78.6 PPG during the playoffs in regulation compared to 79.9 PPG allowed for the 2000 Heat.

The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the playoffs.[21] This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a post-1st round playoff run in the 3-point era (1980–present). The 2000 Spurs had a 91.4 Defensive Rating, but this was in a 1st round loss of only four games.[22]

Player statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chauncey Billups 78 78 35.4 .394 .388 .878 3.5 5.7 1.08 0.10 16.9
Elden Campbell 65 27 13.7 .439 .685 3.2 0.7 0.32 0.77 5.6
Tremaine Fowlkes 36 0 7.3 .313 .125 .722 1.5 0.4 0.25 0.08 1.2
Darvin Ham 54 2 9.0 .493 .500 .600 1.7 0.3 0.24 0.15 1.8
Richard Hamilton 78 78 35.5 .455 .265 .868 3.6 4.0 1.32 0.22 17.6
Lindsey Hunter 33 8 20.0 .343 .280 .625 2.0 2.6 1.18 0.18 3.5
Mike James* 26 0 19.7 .405 .364 .844 2.2 3.7 1.00 0.04 6.3
Darko Miličić 34 0 4.7 .262 .000 .583 1.3 0.2 0.21 0.44 1.4
Mehmet Okur 71 33 22.3 .463 .375 .775 5.9 1.0 0.51 0.89 9.6
Tayshaun Prince 82 80 32.9 .467 .363 .766 4.8 2.3 0.77 0.84 10.3
Ben Wallace 81 81 37.7 .421 .125 .490 12.4 1.7 1.77 3.04 9.5
Rasheed Wallace* 22 21 30.6 .431 .319 .704 7.0 1.8 1.09 2.05 13.7
Corliss Williamson 79 0 19.9 .505 .731 3.2 0.7 0.38 0.25 9.5

* Statistics include only games with the Pistons

Playoffs

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chauncey Billups 23 23 38.3 .385 .346 .890 3.0 5.9 1.35 0.09 16.4
Elden Campbell 14 0 8.9 .286 .556 1.8 0.7 0.43 0.64 2.1
Darvin Ham 22 0 4.9 .500 .000 0.6 0.0 0.14 0.18 0.7
Richard Hamilton 23 23 40.2 .447 .385 .848 4.6 4.2 1.17 0.04 21.5
Lindsey Hunter 23 0 11.9 .292 .233 .917 1.4 0.9 0.78 0.17 2.4
Mike James 22 0 8.9 .396 .429 .563 1.2 1.1 0.23 0.00 2.6
Darko Miličić 8 0 1.8 .000 .250 0.4 0.1 0.13 0.00 0.1
Mehmet Okur 22 0 11.5 .470 .400 .692 2.8 0.4 0.23 0.41 3.7
Tayshaun Prince 23 23 34.6 .410 .265 .745 6.0 2.3 1.09 1.35 9.9
Ben Wallace 23 23 40.2 .454 .000 .427 14.3 1.9 1.91 2.43 10.3
Rasheed Wallace 23 23 34.9 .413 .243 .767 7.8 1.6 0.57 1.96 13.0
Corliss Williamson 22 0 14.9 .364 .000 .809 2.2 0.7 0.27 0.14 5.7

Award winners

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]

Overview

[edit]
Players Added

Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

Players Lost

Via trade

Via retirement

Waived

Trades

[edit]
August 21, 2003[23] To Detroit Pistons
Bob Sura
To Golden State Warriors
Clifford Robinson
Pepe Sánchez
August 28, 2003[24] To Detroit Pistons
Lindsey Hunter
To Toronto Raptors
Michael Curry
February 19, 2004[25] Three-team trade
To Atlanta Hawks
Chris Mills (from Boston)
Bob Sura (from Detroit)
Željko Rebrača (from Detroit)
2004 first-round pick (from Milwaukee via Denver and Detroit)
To Boston Celtics
Chucky Atkins (from Detroit)
Lindsey Hunter (from Detroit)
2004 first-round pick (from Detroit)
Cash considerations
To Detroit Pistons
Mike James (from Boston)
Rasheed Wallace (from Atlanta)

Free agency

[edit]

Additions

[edit]
Date Player Former team Ref.
July 26 Elden Campbell Seattle SuperSonics [26][27]
September 23 Darvin Ham Atlanta Hawks [28]
October 28 Tremaine Fowlkes Los Angeles Clippers [29]
February 26 Lindsey Hunter Boston Celtics [30]

Subtractions

[edit]
Date Player Reason New team Ref.
September 13 Danny Manning Retired [31]
October 22 Justin Hamilton Waived Greece Ionikos [32][33][34]
Derrick Zimmerman Waived Columbus Riverdragons
October 23 Ronald Dupree Waived Chicago Bulls [35][36]
January 20 Hubert Davis Waived New Jersey Nets [37]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2003–04 Detroit Pistons
  2. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Giving Up Little, Pistons Pull Off Deal for Wallace". The New York Times. February 20, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Teamwork Thumps Star Power". New York Times. June 16, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  4. ^ "Basketball: NBA Playoffs 2007 preview". betinf.com. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Utah Jazz". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  6. ^ "Seattle Supersonics". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on August 26, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  7. ^ "Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage". NBA. Retrieved September 4, 2007. Led by their trademark daunting defense
  8. ^ "DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY". Basketball Tickets. Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  9. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  10. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  11. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  12. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  13. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  14. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  15. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  16. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  17. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  18. ^ "Team Game Finder".
  19. ^ "2004 NBA Playoffs Summary".
  20. ^ "2000 NBA Playoffs Summary".
  21. ^ "2004 NBA Playoffs Summary".
  22. ^ "2004 NBA Playoffs Summary".
  23. ^ "Robinson should be help to Dunleavy in frontcourt". ESPN.com. ESPN.com news services. August 21, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  24. ^ "Pistons trade Curry for Hunter". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 28, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  25. ^ "Pistons Acquire Forward/Center Rasheed Wallace From Hawks And Guard Mike James From Boston In Three-Way Deal". Pistons.com. February 19, 2004. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  26. ^ "Pistons Sign Free-Agent Center Elden Campbell". Pistons.com. July 26, 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  27. ^ "Campbell signs with the Pistons". Deseret News. Associated Press. July 27, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  28. ^ "Pistons sign free agent F Darvin Ham". ESPN.com. September 23, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  29. ^ "Pistons sign free-agent Tremaine Fowlkes". ESPN.com. October 28, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  30. ^ "Pistons Sign Lindsey Hunter". Pistons.com. February 26, 2004. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  31. ^ "Manning Retires After 15 Seasons in NBA". NBA.com. September 13, 2003. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  32. ^ "Pistons Waive Guards Derrick Zimmerman and Justin Hamilton". Pistons.com. October 22, 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  33. ^ "HAMILTON, JUSTIN". Euroleague.net. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  34. ^ "Brose Baskets signs Zimmerman at point". Euroleague.net. November 8, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  35. ^ "Pistons Waive Forward Ronald Dupree". Pistons.com. October 23, 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  36. ^ "Transactions". Deseret News. January 8, 2004. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  37. ^ Kerber, Fred (February 22, 2004). "HUBERT'S GOT STREAK OF HIS OWN". New York Post. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
[edit]